Pre-Shave Oil: Before shaving, rub a small amount of oil on your hands and massage into the beard. Lather up Shaving cream or soap on top of the gel and shave.

Shaving Cream: Always shave during or after a hot shower. Using hot water, lather up a small amount of Shaving Cream with a brush or your fingers and shave with the grain. For a closer shave, re-lather and shave lightly across or against the grain. Rinse with cold water and apply After-Shave Balm.

I gave my dad this kit as a Christmas gift. My husband had received it last year and absolutely raves about the line. My dad said the products really made his skin feel good. He especially liked the pre-oil and aftershave.

The kit is an awesome way to allow someone to sample the line first just in case they don't like it. The full size bottles are a bit of an investment. I would recommend this product for the special man in your life.

HOWEVER, the included beard brush for applying lather is absolutely horrid smelling. This is the worst 'dead skunk' smell I have ever encountered. Rubbing the lather on your face is a chore due to the 'stink' you are waving right in fron to fyour face. Tried using the wifes makeup brush cleaning products, etc.. and it's still putrid. Find a quality brush if this is your preferred methos of applying lather.

The pre-shave oil is more like spreading tar on your face. The shaving brush smells awful especially once it gets wet -- more like rubbing a wet, dirty dog on your face. I've tried washing the brush with various cleaners, bleaching it, everything I can think of, but the smell remains. Enough to gag me.

This is actually the best choice, if you have to shave every day. There is a learning curve, in other words, it works best if used properly. Wet shaving with a brush and razor never felt so good using this Art of Shaving product. A few drops of the pre shave oil in the bowl, shave cream on the brush, hot water and thick rich lather that not only feels great, but conditions your skin after the shave. Great for travel, don't have to worry about the liquid restrictions at airports.